Sabita Khadka

Hundreds of young lives are being pushed into crises, their hopes shattered before they even board a plane.

Nepal is set to finally sign a long-awaited bilateral labour agreement with Saudi Arabia, the country's largest destination for migrant workers. According to the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS), the agreement will be signed in the last week of January.  

The number of Nepali workers going abroad is gradually declining, with traditional labour destinations undergoing noticeable shifts due to tighter visa rules and labour policies.

Despite assurances from the government, most successful EPS candidates remain stuck on the roster, with no guarantee of employment. Protesters are demanding priority deployment, roster extensions, and an end to repeated exam cycles.

The first major decision allows around 30,000 Nepali workers currently in Iraq to obtain official labour approval. These workers had long been working without legal documentation due to Nepal’s restriction on labour migration to Iraq.

What began with concern over her child’s food turned into a mission. Phoolmaya’s journey from foreign employment to safe nutrition entrepreneurship reflects a mother’s resolve.

Bimal Neupane, raised in a farming family, turned his childhood lessons of hard work into Milk Art, a premium food brand. After gaining experience in South Korea, he returned to Nepal to create a business that supports local farmers and delivers safe, high-quality dairy products.

Victims endure physical and mental torture, work long hours without pay, and are held hostage until they pay large sums, prompting authorities to launch arrests and investigations under human trafficking laws.

Nepalis drawn by such temptations are shown the dream of foreign employment, but in reality, they are often left stranded. For many, foreign employment is a last hope to fulfil their aspirations, and brokers have turned this hope into a widespread business.

Yet the dream of earning well abroad remained just that—a dream.